QUEEN IIReleased: March 8, 1974, UK (EMI): April 9, 1974 USA (Elektra)
Charts: UK #5 (11 weeks…it would later chart three more times, reaching #23),
USA #49 (13 weeks), Japan #26, Norway #19
Certifications: Gold in the UK, Platinum in Poland
Singles: Seven Seas of Rhye / See What A Fool I’ve Been, February 1974. UK #10 USA (-)
* Recorded August 1973 at Trident Studios, London.
Liner Notes
Freddie Mercury - vocals, piano / harpsichord
Brian May - guitar, piano, vocals, bells
John Deacon - bass guitar, acoustic guitar #
Roger Meddows-Taylor - percussion, vocals
(# the band delayed the initial release to correct, as he was listed once again as Deacon John)
Produced by Roy Thomas Baker and Queen
Additional production by Robin Geoffrey Cable and Queen
Engineered by Mike Stone at Trident Studios, London
Photography and art direction by Mick Rock
Sleeve concept by Mick Rock and Queen
Virtouso castanets by Roy Thomas Baker...
and nobody played synthesizer... again.The Fairy Fellers Master-Stroke inspired by a painting by Richard Dadd
Nevermore and Funny How Love Is Produced by Robin G. Cable and Queen
The March Of The Black Queen produced by Roy Thomas Baker, Robin G. Cable,and Queen.
(* actual studio sessions ended in February 1974)
SIDE WHITE
Procession (May) 1:12
Father to Son (May) 6:14
White Queen (As It Began) (May) 4:34
Some Day One Day (May) 4:23
The Loser in the End (Taylor) 4:02
SIDE BLACK
Ogre Battle (Mercury) 4:10
The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke (Mercury) 2:40
Nevermore (Mercury) 1:17
The March of the Black Queen (Mercury) 6:33
Funny How Love Is (Mercury) 2:50
Seven Seas of Rhye (Mercury) 2:50
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Additional notes: ‘See What A Fool I’ve Been’ was made widely available on the Hollywood Records ’92 reissue. A concert closer through ‘75, this nonalbum B-side of ‘Seven Seas of Rhye’ is vastly different from the BBC and live versions. It is as camp as you can possibly get.
2011 Universal reissue bonus disc: See What A Fool I've Been (BBC version, July 1973; ), White Queen (live, Hammersmith, Dec 75), Seven Seas of Rhye (backing track) Nevermore (BBC), See What A Fool I’ve Been (B-side version, ’74).
Queen Productions missed the mark on yet another reissue. Will comment in another post.
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From the iconic cover, to the sound, production, writing, (and risks), this is an advanced, more professional sounding effort compared to their debut. Brian’s ‘orchestral’ guitar sound and their backing vocals became much more prominent, and Freddie sounds like, well, Freddie. ‘Side White’ opens with four Brian songs, the fittingly titled instrumental ‘Procession’ before the bombastic first chords of ‘Father To Son’ (together, my second favorite(s) next to a release the following year). A love letter of sorts 'from' Brian's father, one of their best instrumentals, to its fade out and gentle segue into the beautiful and grand ‘White Queen’. ‘Some Day One Day’ follows, a semi ballad and Brian’s first as lead vocalist. ‘Loser In The End’, penned and sung by Roger, closes out the side. I enjoyed all of his offerings in the 70s, and on its own this song is fine, but it feels somewhat out of place on this album (the mix, the drums, and no BVs….)
‘Side Black’ is all Freddie. Various fantasy land topics from his early childhood with his sister appear throughout. ‘Ogre Battle’ is a surprising rocker, and was part of their setlist off and on through 1977. The ending quickly fades into ‘Fairy Feller’ inspired by a painting by Richard Dadd, an uptempo harpsichord driven song. The very short but beautiful ‘Nevermore’ follows. Finally, a second of rest before ‘The March of the Black Queen’, their second longest ‘epic’ at over six and a half minutes. Freddie’s first tour de force, setting the stage for so much that would follow. You want something that includes everything AND the kitchen sink? Well, it’s all here. It has everything one might love (or hate) about Queen, until fading into the “I Can Hear Music’ Larry Lurex inspired ‘Funny How Love Is’. The debut album ending instrumental is ‘reprised’ with ‘Seven Seas of Rhye’, their first single to reach the UK Top Ten. The ‘I do like to be beside the seaside’ fadeout will appear again in the future.
*****
I find Side White more ‘accessible’, while the wife absolutely adores Side White (but tears up during ‘White Queen’). Then again, once I start listening to Side Black.......
(Procession/Father to Son, and most of Side Black are pure stereo headphone delights!)
One of the band's 'Mount Rushmore' releases.
To hear the songs that segue from one to another as they appear on the album:
Procession / Father To Son / White Queen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbZxHojeb3EOgre Battle / The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke / Nevermore
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqTk1lzoQGkThe March Of The Black Queen / Funny How Love Is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R-fErvfHDYMy original vinyl had the old boring plain white sleeve with the center hole. Having worn it out on an inexpensive crystal cartridge turntable, the replacement had a 'full' sleeve with lyrics. 'Side White' was with black writing, and 'Side Black' was black with white writing. Occasionally, fortune smiles.